Presenting the results achieved in the tourism sector and the projections for the coming months, Tourism Minister David Collado pointed out that in April alone the country received a total of 862,705 visitors by air and sea.
He indicated that of the 862,705 visitors received in April, some 681,567 were by air and another 181,138 by sea.
He said that of the 681,567 tourists who traveled by air, a total of 587,455 were foreigners and 94,112 Dominicans.
He pointed out that these figures exceed the previous ones, which break a record in the number of tourists arriving in the country, pointing out that the total of 681,567 arriving by air is 9% more than in 2022 and 17% more happened. Compared to 2019.
He highlighted that this month marks Holy Week in the Dominican Republic, the day when more tourists are attracted to the island and the sector is revitalized. He expressed that as an official he is doing things “completely different from simple, from simple to complex”, referring to the fact that he has never in his political career spent on travel expenses, hotel rooms or air tickets. Payment has not been accepted.
“What an honour, having the opportunity to go out into the world to sell my country. The greatest honor a citizen can have. We are doing it with love and transparency, the numbers are there,” said Collado before starting the presentation of the results in the field.
January April
While in the first four-month period of the year, 3,745,475 visitors were received, of which a total of 2,757,810 arrived in the Dominican territory by air and another 987,665 by sea, up from 417,744 in 2022 and 459,441 in 2019.
Presenting the data through illustrated graphs and bars on the screen, he said that 2,757,810 tourists arrived in the first four months of this year, up from 2,340,959 in 2022 and 2,460,423 in 2019.
“These are the clear and irrefutable numbers that we have achieved month after month, surpassing our records,” said David Collado.
Estimate
Minister David Collado said that by the end of this year, the country is estimated to receive some 7.9 million tourists, which he called a “historic figure”.
Other activities
He announced that this week in Punta Cana, for the first time, the Executive Committee of the World Tourism Organization will be present, consisting of more than 20 ministers from the regions.
They will discuss how the tourism industry will perform this year, in addition to the decisions that will be made around the world on this sector.
He added that part of his strategy is for the Dominican Republic to be a leader in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism and that hotels will begin reducing plastic use through a sustainable tourism seminar.
“We have to feel proud of what is happening with our country’s brand across the world,” he said at the end of his speech.
On Easter, from April 1 to April 8, a total of 266,757 tourists attended, a 24 percent increase compared to 2022, which received 214,963.
Of the total 266,757 visitors, some 211,411 were tourists and the other 55,346 were commuters, representing an increase of 12% and 105% respectively compared to 2022.
La Altagracia, Greater Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata were the main demarcations where they chose to stay and the issuing countries were the United States, Canada and Colombia, arriving via Punta Cana and Las Americas airports.
While hotel occupancy was 85 percent in La Romana, 81 percent in La Altagracia, 77 percent in Samana and 73 percent in Puerto Plata.
By ports
Sea arrival
A total of 181,138 cruise passengers arrived, of which 87,281 came through Amber Cove port and 72,218 through Taino Bay port.
In addition, a total of 18,840 arrived through La Romana port, another 2,489 through Santo Domingo and 310 arrived in Samaná.
In the first quarter of this year, 987,665 sea arrivals were received, compared to 417,744 in 2022.
